Drive shaft damper assembly

ABSTRACT

A drive shaft damper assembly is structured to be installed onto a drive shaft bearing while it remains secured to a drive shaft mounted to a vehicle. The drive shaft bearing assembly includes a bearing collar assembly having a collar and a securing mechanism structured to securely attach the collar to the drive shaft bearing. The drive shaft damper assembly also includes an inner damper assembly, interconnected to the bearing collar assembly, which defines an inner bushing interface, and an outer damper assembly defining an outer bushing interface. A bushing assembly is disposed in an operative engagement between the inner and outer damper assemblies, wherein each of a plurality of bushing members are individually interconnected between the inner bushing interface and the outer bushing interface. A mounting mechanism is structured to securely attach the outer damper assembly to a portion of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a drive shaft damper assemblystructured to be installed on a drive shaft of a vehicle while the driveshaft remains installed on the vehicle. The present drive shaft damperassembly further includes a bushing assembly structured to permit a userto “tune” the drive shaft to compensate for inherent manufacturingirregularities which may cause a drive shaft to rotate offset from itscentral axis.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most automobiles manufactured today include a two piece drive shaftjoined together using constant velocity (“C.V.”) joints approximatelymidway along its length. More in particular, the C.V. joints arestructured to compensate for minor misalignment between the separatepieces of the shaft as well as to compensate for the vibration to whichthe drive shaft is exposed during operation. In addition to the C.V.joints which join the separate portions of the drive shaft together,most automobiles are also equipped with a damper mechanism including acenter support around at least a portion of one of the drive shaftmembers, wherein the center support includes an annular bushing whichserves to cushion or dampen the vibrational forces exerted on thevehicle via rotational force generated of the drive shaft. As originallymanufactured, the damper mechanism typically has an annular rubberizedbushing or damper member which completely encircles and is fixedlyattached to an outer bearing race, while a corresponding inner bearingrace is securely affixed to a portion of the drive shaft itself, aplurality of ball bearings being operatively disposed therebetween. Theouter periphery of the annular bushing is affixed to the inside of thecenter support which is secured to the underside of the vehicle itself.As will be appreciated, the continuous annular configuration of thebushing or damper member allows for both compression and tension forcesto be exerted on the annular bushing. More in particular, the annularbushing can accommodate both tension and compression forces exertedthereon as a result of movement of the drive shaft from its centrallongitudinal axis of rotation. That is to say, that when the drive shaftrotates offset from it central longitudinal axis of rotation, such asoccurs due to inherent manufacturing irregularities and/or the set up ofresonant frequencies, it will exert a compression force on one portionof an annular bushing, while a substantially equal and opposite tensionforce will be disposed approximately 180° degrees from the point of thecompressive force on the annular bushing. As such, the opposing tensionand compression forces act together to reposition the drive shaft andminimize the deviation of its rotation from its central longitudinalaxis.

It has been observed that the annular bushing of the central supportsuch as described above tends to fail after even moderate use in manyvehicles, namely, in the range of about forty-thousand to sixty-thousandmiles of operation. Of course, most vehicles manufactured today aredesigned to operate well over one hundred thousand miles, if not severalhundred thousand miles. Therefore, it is common for the owners of manyvehicles to have to replace the annular bushing several times over theuseful life of the vehicle. Presently, in order to replace the annularbushing, the central support, annular bushing, and drive shaft bearingmust all be removed from the drive shaft and replaced, thus requiring atleast partial removal of the drive shaft from the vehicle itself, whichrequires significant time, labor, and expense. In many cases, the C.V.joints must be disassembled to remove the drive shaft, thereby requiringreplacement of the same, adding further time and expense to the process.As will be appreciated, this is a very labor intensive procedure and,when the cost of the replacement parts are taken into account, theentire process can easily costs upwards of thousands of dollars peroccurrence. In addition to this considerable expense, the owner of thevehicle is often without use of the vehicle for an extended period oftime while the drive shaft is removed, replacement parts are ordered,and the drive shaft, annular bushing, and, in many cases, the C.V.joints, are reinstalled onto the vehicle.

In view of the time and expense required to resolve this problem,alternatives have been sought to replace the annular bushing of thecentral support without requiring disassembly and removal of the driveshaft or C.V. joints from the vehicle. Common to these alternatives isthat at least a portion of an annular bushing is cut or split in orderto allow placement over the outer bearing race of the drive shaftbearing mounted to the drive shaft, which remains installed on thevehicle. One such alternative provides an annular bushing which is splitinto two semicircular bushing portions which are positioned around thebearing assembly and are retained in place by an outer clamp. While thisstructure eliminates the need for removal of the drive shaft assemblyfrom the vehicle, it introduces an inherent operational defect whichnegates at least one aspect of the intended purpose of the annularbushing itself. Specifically, as noted above, the original continuousannular bushing is structured such that substantially equal and opposingtension and compression forces are exerted on opposite portions of thecontinuous annular bushing by the drive shaft, because the annularbushing is fixedly attached to both the drive shaft bearing and thecenter support. As a result, these forces serve to act together toreposition the drive shaft into alignment with its central longitudinalaxis of rotation.

As will be readily appreciated, however, when a continuous annularbushing is cut into two or more portions and positioned around the driveshaft bearing without being securely affixed to the drive shaft bearingas well as to the outer clamp, when the drive shaft exerts a compressiveforce on one portion of the split annular bushing, there is no longer asubstantially equal and opposite tension force exerted on the otherportion of the annular bushing opposite the point of compression. Assuch, a split annular bushing simply cannot serve the intended functionof repositioning the drive shaft into alignment with its centrallongitudinal axis of rotation.

As such, it would be beneficial to provide an improved bushing assemblywhich may be mounted around a drive shaft while the drive shaft remainsinstalled on a vehicle. More in particular it would be helpful for suchan improved bushing assembly to be responsive to both compression andtension forces exerted by the drive shaft, such that the forces acttogether to reposition the drive shaft into alignment with its centrallongitudinal axis of rotation. Further, it would be beneficial for suchan improved bushing assembly to allow for “tuning” of the drive shaft tominimize the set up of resonance frequencies which can result inunnecessary, and potentially harmful or dangerous vibration of a vehicleduring operation. A further benefit would be realized by providing animproved drive shaft damper assembly which permits replacement ofindividual bushing members without requiring removal of the entire driveshaft damper assembly from the drive shaft of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application is directed to a drive shaft damper assemblywhich is structured to be mounted to a drive shaft bearing which issecured to a drive shaft, while the drive shaft remains installed on avehicle.

The drive shaft damper assembly comprises a bearing collar assemblyhaving a collar, wherein the collar at least partially defines a bearingchannel therein. In at least one embodiment, a bearing flange isdisposed along at least a portion of a periphery of the bearing channel,serving to retain the collar securely about the drive shaft bearing.

More in particular, the bearing collar assembly comprises a plurality ofcollar members structured to permit the collar to be positioned aroundand securely attached to the drive shaft bearing while the drive shaftremains mounted to the vehicle. A securing mechanism is provided and isstructured to securely yet removably attach the collar, or specifically,the collar members, around and to the drive shaft bearing.

The drive shaft damper assembly of the present invention furthercomprises an inner damper assembly having a plurality of inner sections.In at least one embodiment, each inner section of the inner damperassembly is interconnected to a corresponding one of the plurality ofcollar members of the bearing collar assembly. In at least one furtherembodiment, each inner section of the inner damper assembly isintegrally attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of collarmembers of the bearing collar assembly. The plurality of inner sectionsof the inner damper assembly are further and cooperatively structured todefine an inner bushing interface when disposed in an operativeorientation relative to one another. In at least one embodiment, aplurality of inner bushing mounts are disposed in a spaced apartarrangement along the inner damper interface.

The present drive shaft damper assembly further comprises an outerdamper assembly having a plurality of outer segments, wherein theplurality of outer segments are structured to substantially encircle theinner damper assembly when the outer segments are disposed in anoperative configuration relative to one another. Similar to theplurality of inner sections of the inner damper assembly, the outersegments of the outer damper assembly are cooperatively structured so asto define an outer bushing interface, and further, in at least oneembodiment, a plurality of outer bushing mounts are disposed in a spacedapart arrangement along the outer damper interface.

A bushing assembly is disposed in an operative engagement between theinner damper assembly and the outer damper assembly. In at least oneembodiment, the bushing assembly comprises a plurality of bushingmembers are individually and axially interconnected between the innerbushing interface and the outer bushing interface, and in one furtherembodiment, the plurality of bushing members individually and axiallyinterconnected between corresponding pairs of inner bushing mounts andouter bushing mounts.

A mounting mechanism is interconnected to at least a portion of theouter damper assembly and is structured to securely attach the outerdamper assembly to a portion of the vehicle, thereby operativelyinterconnecting the drive shaft damper assembly between the drive shaftand the vehicle itself.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become clearer when the drawings as well as the detaileddescription are taken into consideration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a “prior art” damper mechanismmounted to a drive shaft.

FIG. 1A is a cross-section of the drive shaft having the “prior art”damper mechanism of FIG. 1 mounted thereto.

FIG. 1B is illustrative of a drive shaft bearing affixed to the driveshaft after removal of the annular bushing and center support of the“prior art” damper mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 1A.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of one embodiment of a drive shaft damperassembly in accordance with the present invention installed onto a driveshaft bearing affixed to a drive shaft.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a drive shaft damperassembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the drive shaft damper assembly of FIG.3 in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation illustrative of oneembodiment of a drive shaft damper assembly in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4A is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of a securingmechanism of a collar assembly.

FIGS. 5A through 5F are illustrative of a few alternate embodiments of abushing member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft damper assembly ofFIG. 3 installed on a drive shaft bearing on a drive shaft, withoutperceivable force exerted thereon.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft damper assembly ofFIG. 6A, wherein the drive shaft is exerting a compression force on thedamper assembly at approximate 270 degrees.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the drive shaft damper assembly ofFIG. 6A, wherein the drive shaft is exerting a compression force on thedamper assembly at approximate 60 degrees. Like reference numerals referto like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As noted above, the present invention comprises a drive shaft damperassembly generally as shown at 10 throughout the figures. In at leastone embodiment, the present drive shaft damper assembly 10 is structuredto replace a “prior art” damper mechanism (DM), such as is illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 1A. More in particular, and with reference to the “priorart” damper mechanism, a drive shaft bearing (DSB) is affixed to a driveshaft in (DS), and as best illustrated in FIG. 1A, the “prior art”damper mechanism comprises an annular bushing (AB), which is affixed tothe outer bearing race of the drive shaft bearing. A center support (CS)surrounds the annular bushing, which is also affixed thereto, and allowsthe “prior art” damper mechanism to be mounted to the underside of thevehicle, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1 further illustratesC.V. joints (CV) which are structured and disposed to join together twoseparate portions of the drive shaft proximate the location of the“prior art” damper mechanism. As noted above, failure of the annularbushing is common in many modern vehicles operated anywhere in the rangeof about forty-thousand to sixty-thousand miles. As also noted above,and as is readily apparent from FIG. 1, replacement of the original“prior art” damper mechanism requires removal of at least a portion ofthe drive shaft from the vehicle, which often necessitates disassembly,and subsequent reassembly, of the C.V. joints. Further, in most cases,the entire drive shaft having the original “prior art” damper mechanismattached thereto must be removed from the vehicle in its entirety. Assuch, the owner of the vehicle is without use of the same until thisentire, time consuming and expensive process is completed.

The drive shaft damper assembly 10 of the present invention isstructured to be mounted directly to the original drive shaft bearingwhile it remains affixed to the drive shaft. More in particular, thepresent drive shaft damper assembly 10 is structured to be mounted theoriginal drive shaft bearing after an original annular bushing andcenter support of a “prior art” damper mechanism have been removed, suchas is illustrated in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of one embodiment of the drive shaft damperassembly 10 in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG.2 illustrates a drive shaft damper assembly 10 mounted to an originaldrive shaft bearing (DSB) which remains secured to a drive shaft (DS),after removal of the original annular bushing and center support of the“prior art” damper mechanism, once again, as illustrated in FIG. 1B.Looking to FIG. 2, drive shaft damper assembly 10 comprises a bearingcollar assembly 20 securely mounted to the drive shaft bearing (DSB).Looking further to FIG. 3A, which is a perspective view of theembodiment of the drive shaft damper assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 2, oneembodiment of an inner damper assembly 30 is illustrated as beinginterconnected to the bearing collar assembly 20, in accordance with thepresent invention. An outer damper assembly 40 is disposed in asubstantially encircling relation to inner damper assembly 30, onceagain, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, thereby defining a dampening zone 43therebetween, as is discussed in greater detailed below. FIG. 3A furtherillustrates one embodiment of a bushing assembly 50 in accordance withthe present invention, the bushing assembly 50 being operativelydisposed and interconnected between inner damper assembly 30 and outerdamper assembly 40.

An exploded view of one embodiment of a drive shaft damper assembly 10in accordance with the present invention is presented in FIG. 3. Asbefore, drive shaft damper assembly 10 comprises a bearing collarassembly 20 comprising a collar 21 which is cooperatively structured tobe securely mounted to drive shaft bearing (DSB). Collar 21 comprises aplurality of separable collar members 22, each of said collar members 22comprising a portion of a bearing channel 24 structured to be securelymounted to the outer race of the drive shaft bearing (DSB). In at leastone embodiment, collar members 22 comprise a bearing flange 25, such asis illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the bearing flange 25 is structured tosecure collar 21 to the outer race of drive shaft bearing (DSB). Asshown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the bearing flange 25 is disposedsubstantially and continuously along the periphery of bearing channel24. However, it is understood to be within the scope and intent of thepresent invention for the bearing flange 25 to comprise one or morenon-continuous portions intermittently spaced apart along the peripheryof the bearing channel 24. Further, as shown throughout the figures, thebearing collar assembly 20 comprises two semi-circular collar members22, of course, it is also within the scope and intent of the presentinvention for bearing collar assembly 20 to comprise a plurality ofcollar members 22 cooperatively structured to substantially encircle andbe securely attached to the outer race of a drive shaft bearing (DSB).

To facilitate securely attaching collar 21 to drive shaft bearing (DSB),in at least one embodiment, bearing collar assembly 20 comprises asecuring mechanism 26. As illustrated best in FIG. 4A, in at least oneembodiment, securing mechanism 26 comprises at least one fastener 27structured to be received in a fastener interface 28 disposed on one ofcollar members 22. Of course, it will be appreciated that one or morealternative securing mechanism 26 may be employed in accordance with thepresent invention, for example, a circular clamp may be affixed aroundthe outer periphery of collar 21 so as to securely maintain collarmembers 22 in their operative position securely attached to drive shaftbearing (DSB).

FIGS. 3, 3A and 4 are further illustrative of an inner damper assembly30. More in particular, inner damper assembly 30 comprises a pluralityof inner sections 32 which are cooperatively structured to form innerdamper 31, as shown best in FIG. 3A. In at least one embodiment, eachinner section 32 of inner damper 31 is interconnected to a correspondingcollar member 22 of collar 21. Further, in at least one furtherembodiment, such as is presented in the illustrative embodiment FIG. 3,each inner section 32 is integrally attached to a corresponding collarmember 22. Similar to collar 21, inner damper 31 comprises asubstantially annular configuration forming a drive shaft aperture 33therethrough, as illustrated best in FIG. 6A. More in particular, thedrive shaft aperture 33 is structured to permit at least portion of adrive shaft (DS) to pass through the inner damper 31 and allow itsoperation, i.e., rotation, while disposed therethrough. FIG. 3 furtherillustrates that each inner section 32 defines at least a portion of aninner bushing interface 34 on an outer surface thereof. Further, eachinner section 32 comprises at least one inner bushing mount 35 securelyaffixed thereto. In at least one embodiment, each inner section 32 ofinner damper 31 comprises a plurality of inner bushing mounts 35 alongits corresponding portion of inner bushing interface 34. In yet onefurther embodiment, each inner bushing mount 35 comprises at least oneflange 35′ (see FIG. 4) structured to retain a bushing member 51securely yet removably attached thereto. Of course, it is within thescope and intent of the present invention for the bushing members 51 tobe securely attached to an inner bushing mount 35 via other fasteningmechanisms, such as a clamp, friction fit, heat weld, adhesive, etc.

The plurality of inner sections 32 of inner damper 31 may be retainedand positioned relative to one another via a securing mechanism such asdescribed above with respect to collar 21. Alternatively, in anembodiment wherein inner damper 31 and collar 21 are integrallyattached, such as is presented in the illustrative embodiments of thepresent invention presented herein, securing mechanism 26 of bearingcollar assembly 20 serves to securely retain the plurality of innersections 32 of inner damper 31 in an operative position relative to adrive shaft (DS).

As shown in the figures, the drive shaft damper assembly 10 inaccordance with the present invention further comprises an outer damperassembly 40. Outer damper assembly 40 comprises an outer damper 41having a plurality of outer segments 42. More in particular, and asnoted above, the outer damper 41 is structured to substantially encircleinner damper 31 of inner damper assembly 30, thereby forming a dampeningzone 43 therebetween. Outer segments 42 of outer damper 41 comprise atleast a portion of an outer damper interface 44. Further, at least oneouter bushing mount 45 is securely affixed to the portion of the outerbushing interface 44 of each outer segment 42. Similar to inner bushingmounts 35 of inner damper 31, in at least one embodiment, each outerbushing mount 45 comprises a flange 45′ which is structured to securelyyet removably retain a portion of a bushing member 51 thereon. As in thecase of inner bushing mounts 35, it is within the scope and intent ofthe present invention for bushing members 51 to be securely attached toan outer bushing mount 45 via other fastening mechanisms, such asclamps, friction fit, heat weld, adhesives, etc.

In at least one embodiment, a retainer mechanism 46 is employed tosecure outer segments 42 of outer damper 41 to one another and to retainthem in an operative orientation. In the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 3 and 3A, retainer mechanism 46 comprises a pair of cooperativelystructured tabs 47 on either end of outer segments 42, each tab 47having an aperture therethrough. Fastener 47′, such as a nut and boltillustrated throughout the figures, may be employed in order to securelyand removably attach outer segments 42 of outer damper 41 to oneanother. Of course, it will be appreciated it is well within the scopeof intent of the present invention for any of a plurality of othermechanical fasteners to be employed by retainer mechanism 46 in order tomaintain the plurality of outer segments 42 of outer damper 41 securedto one another in an operative orientation. As just one example,retainer mechanism may comprise a fastener and fastener interfacesimilar to the securing mechanism 26 of collar 21, as disclosed above.

The outer damper assembly 40 further comprises a mounting mechanism 48which is structured to secure outer damper assembly 40 to a portion ofthe vehicle in an operative configuration. In at least one embodiment,mounting mechanism 48 comprises at least one bracket 49. As illustratedin FIG. 2, mounting mechanism 48 comprises a plurality of brackets 49extending from either side of one portion of outer segment 42 of outerdamper 41.

As noted above, the drive shaft damper assembly 10 of the presentinvention further comprises a bushing assembly 50. Looking once again toFIG. 3, and also to FIG. 6A, bushing assembly 50 comprises a pluralityof bushing members 51, each having a substantially cylindricalconfiguration, wherein each bushing member 51 comprises an innerperiphery 52 and an outer periphery 53. More in particular, innerperiphery 52 is structured and dimensioned such that bushing member 51may be removably secured at one end to a inner bushing mount 35 of aninner section 32 of inner damper 31, and at an opposite end to acorresponding outer bushing mount 45 of a corresponding outer segment 42of outer damper 41, such as illustrated best in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5A through 5F are illustrative of various embodiments of bushingmember 51 in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 5A illustratesbushing member 51 having a homogenous construction 54, i.e., a singlematerial of construction. It is within the scope and intent of thepresent invention for bushing members 51 to be manufactured from any ofa plurality of materials including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, aswell as a variety of other synthetic elastomeric materials. Further, itis anticipated that bushing members 51 in accordance with the presentinvention may comprise a wide range of elastomeric properties. Forexample, bushing member 51 illustrated in FIG. 5B comprises a compositeconstruction 55 comprising an inner layer 56 and an outer layer 56′. Inat least one embodiment, composite construction 55 includes a cloth,fabric or other similar material comprising an intermediate layer 56″,such as is illustrated in FIG. 5C, to impart additional strength andlimit the elastic characteristics of a bushing member 51 comprising sucha composite construction 55.

In at least one further embodiment such as illustrated in FIG. 5D, abushing member 51 may comprise an auxiliary bushing member 57 disposedwithin at least a portion of bushing member 51. Further, auxiliarybushing member 57 may be integrally formed with bushing member 51 andcomprise a homogenous construction 54 with the same. Alternatively,auxiliary bushing member 57 may comprise the same material ofconstruction as bushing member 51, however, it may comprise a separate,removable component therefrom. In yet one further embodiment, auxiliarybushing member 57 may comprise a different material of construction frombushing member 51, and may be either removably or fixedly disposedtherein. FIGS. 5E and 5F illustrate the disposition of auxiliary bushingmember 57 relative to bushing member 51. Specifically, FIG. 5E is across-sectional view of bushing member 51 of FIG. 5D along lines E-Ethereof, clearly showing auxiliary bushing member 57 disposed therein soas to provide sufficient clearance for attachment of inner bushing mount35 and outer bushing mount 45 at opposite ends of bushing member 51.FIG. 5F is a cross-sectional view of bushing member 51 of FIG. 5D alonglines F-F thereof, further illustrating the disposition of auxiliarybushing member 57 relative to bushing member 51, in at least oneembodiment.

Having described the various structural components and embodiments ofthe drive shaft damper assembly 10 in accordance with the presentinvention, FIGS. 6A through 6C are illustrative of the drive shaftdamper assembly 10 mounted in an operable engagement with a drive shaft(DS). In particular, FIG. 6A is illustrative of the drive shaft damperassembly 10 mounted to drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is exertingno perceptible, i.e., no visibly detectable, force on bushing assembly50. FIG. 6A is representative of the drive shaft damper assembly 10 ofthe present invention mounted to drive shaft which is either at rest, oris rotating substantially symmetrically about its central axis (CA). Asmay be seen from FIG. 6A, bushing members 51 are arranged in asubstantially symmetrical arrangement relative to the drive shaft (DS),and have similar lengths relative to one another, which is indicative ofa lack of any perceptible compression or tension forces being exertedthereon.

Looking next to FIG. 6B, the axis of rotation (AR) of the drive shafthas shifted to the left from the position of the central axis (CA) asshown in FIG. 6A. The shift in the axis of rotation (AR) of the driveshaft (DS) can result for a number of reasons, such as, minormisalignment of the portions of the drive shaft (DS) with one another,imperfections in the cylindrical configuration, i.e., bends, in eitherdrive shaft portion, or other inherent imperfections, as well as fromresonant frequencies which may set up as a result of certain operatingconditions of the vehicle itself, such as speed and/or road surfaceconditions. FIG. 6B further illustrates that the offset in the axis ofrotation (AR) of drive shaft (DS) results in the drive shaft exerting aforce on bushing assembly 50 at approximately 270 degrees, or about9:00, as represented by load vector 60. FIG. 6B also clearly illustratesthat the individual bushing members 51 e and 51 f are in a state ofcompression as a result of the force exerted by the drive shaft (DS),while bushing members 51 a through 51 d are each in a state of tension,once again, as a result of the location of the force exerted by thedrive shaft (DS) relative to bushing assembly 50. As is also evidentfrom FIG. 6B, as a result of the opposing tension forces on bushingmembers 51 a through 51 d, bushing member 51 e and 51 f will tend tourge drive shaft (DS) back towards the symmetrical orientation asillustrated in FIG. 6A, thereby affecting rotation of the drive shaft(DS) about its central axis (CA).

As will be appreciated, the complementary compression and tension forcesillustrated in FIG. 6B will not exist in the situation where a splitannular bushing is installed around the drive shaft bearing.Specifically, each of bushing members 51 a through 51 f of the bushingassembly 50 in accordance with the present invention are secured to bothinner damper assembly 30 and outer damper assembly 40 as clearlyillustrated to FIGS. 6A through 6C. Conversely, a split annular bushingwhich is disposed around the drive shaft bearing is merely held inposition by an overlying clamp or other such retainer, but it is notsecured to either the drive shaft bearing or the clamp, and as such, itcan not produce the complementary tension and compression forces. Inparticular, when a drive shaft exerts a load on one portion of a splitannular bushing, that portion of the split annular bushing compresses inthe direction of the load, however, because the bushing is split intoportions which are not operatively secured to inner and outer dampers,no complementary tension force is generated in the other portion of thesplit annular bushing. Rather, a gap or space may form between the driveshaft and the other portion of the split annular bushing opposite theload exerted by the drive shaft. As such, complementary compression andtension forces are not available to force the drive shaft back intorotation along its central axis.

FIG. 6C is illustrative of drive shaft exerting a force on a differentportion of bushing assembly 50 in accordance with the present invention.As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the drive shaft (DS) is exerting a force atapproximately 60 degrees, or about 2:00, such that bushing members 51 a,51 b, and 51 c are under varying states of compression. Additionally, asa result of the force exerted by the drive shaft (DS) in the directionof load vector 60 in FIG. 6C, bushing members 51 d through 51 f are invaried states of tension. Once again, and similar to the situationdescribed above with respect to FIG. 6B, the complementary compressionand tension forces exhibited by bushing members 51 a through 51 f willtend to urge drive shaft (DS) back into rotation along its central axis(CA). As will be appreciated, a force exerted by the drive shaft (DS) atapproximately 60 degrees, or 2:00, on a split annular bushing, wouldagain result in a compression force on a portion of the split annularbushing adjacent the drive shaft at the point of said force, however,the drive shaft would simply pull away from and leave a gap betweenitself and the oppositely disposed other portion of the split annularbushing. Once again, the bushing assembly 50 in accordance with thepresent invention provides complementary forces to tend the drive shaft(DS) back into rotation about its central axis (CA).

As will be further appreciated from FIGS. 6A through 6C, bushingassembly 50 may be “tuned” to account for minor imperfections which maycause the drive shaft (DS) to rotate offset from its central axis (CA).Specifically, individual bushing members 51 a through 51 f may beselected so as to exert greater or lesser tension or compression forces,as may be required to urge the drive shaft (DS) back into rotation alongits central axis (CA). Specifically, in the event the drive shaft (DS)has a tendency to rotate off center to the left, such as is shown inFIG. 6B, bushing members 51 e and 51 f may be constructed from amaterial having a harder durometer than those of bushing members 51 athrough 51 d. Additionally and/or alternatively, bushing members 51 eand 51 f may comprise a greater outer periphery 53 thereby providingmore material with which to resist the compressive force exerted by thedrive shaft (DS), and/or bushing members 51 e and 51 f may comprise acomposite construction 55, once again selected so as to offset thecompressive force exerted by the drive shaft (DS) in the direction ofload vector 60.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. A drive shaft damper assembly operable with adrive shaft bearing which is secured to a drive shaft of a vehicle, saidassembly comprising: a bearing collar assembly having a collar and asecuring mechanism structured to securely attach said collar to thedrive shaft bearing, said bearing collar assembly comprising a pluralityof collar members structured to permit said collar to be positionedaround and securely attached to the drive shaft bearing while the driveshaft remains mounted to the vehicle, an inner damper assemblyinterconnected to said bearing collar assembly, said inner damperassembly defining an inner bushing interface, an outer damper assemblydefining an outer bushing interface, a bushing assembly disposed in anoperative engagement between said inner damper assembly and said outerdamper assembly, wherein said bushing assembly comprises a plurality ofbushing members individually interconnected between said inner bushinginterface and said outer bushing interface, and a mounting mechanisminterconnected to said outer damper assembly and structured to securelyattach said outer damper assembly to a portion of the vehicle.
 2. Theassembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner damper assemblycomprises a plurality of inner sections which define a drive shaftaperture structured to permit at least a portion of the drive shaft topass therethrough when said plurality of inner sections are disposed inan operative orientation with one another.
 3. The vehicle assembly asrecited in claim 1 wherein said outer damper assembly comprises aplurality of outer segments which at least partially define a dampeningzone when disposed in an operative configuration with one another andsubstantially encircling said inner damper assembly.
 4. The assembly asrecited in claim 1 wherein said bearing collar assembly and said innerdamper assembly are integrally attached.
 5. A drive shaft damperassembly operable with a drive shaft bearing which is secured to a driveshaft of a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a bearing collar assemblyhaving a collar and a securing mechanism structured to securely attachsaid collar to the drive shaft bearing, said bearing collar assemblycomprising a plurality of collar members structured to permit saidcollar to be positioned around and securely attached to the drive shaftbearing while the drive shaft remains mounted to the vehicle, an innerdamper assembly at least partially defining an inner bushing interface,said inner damper assembly interconnected to said bearing collarassembly, an outer damper assembly at least partially defining an outerbushing interface, said outer damper assembly structured tosubstantially encircle said inner damper assembly, a bushing assemblycomprising a plurality of bushing members individually and axiallyinterconnected in an operative engagement between said inner damperassembly and said outer damper assembly, and a mounting mechanismstructured to securely attach said outer damper assembly to a portion ofthe vehicle.
 6. The assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said innerdamper assembly comprises a plurality of inner sections, each of saidplurality of inner sections being interconnected to a corresponding oneof said plurality of collar members of said bearing collar assembly. 7.The assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality ofinner sections of said inner damper assembly is integrally attached tosaid corresponding one of said plurality of collar members of saidbearing collar assembly.
 8. The assembly as recited in claim 6 whereinsaid collar is positioned around and securely attached to the driveshaft bearing while the drive shaft remains mounted to the vehicle andsaid plurality of inner sections of said inner damper assembly define adrive shaft aperture structured to permit at least a portion of thedrive shaft to pass therethrough when said plurality of inner sectionsare disposed in an operative orientation with one another.
 9. Theassembly as recited in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of spacedapart inner bushing mounts affixed to said inner bushing interface. 10.The assembly as recited in claim 9 further comprising a plurality ofspaced apart outer bushing mounts affixed to said outer bushinginterface.
 11. The assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein each of saidplurality of bushing members is removably interconnected between acorresponding pair of said inner bushing mounts and said outer bushingmounts.
 12. The assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein at least some ofsaid plurality of bushing members comprise a homogenous construction.13. The assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein at least some of saidplurality of bushing members comprise a composite construction.
 14. Theassembly as recited in claim 11 wherein at least some of said pluralityof bushing members comprise an auxiliary bushing member.
 15. A driveshaft damper assembly operable with a drive shaft bearing which issecured to a drive shaft of a vehicle, said assembly comprising: abearing collar assembly having a collar, wherein said collar at leastpartially defines a bearing channel therein, said bearing collarincluding a bearing flange disposed along at least a portion of aperiphery of said bearing channel, said bearing collar assemblycomprising a plurality of collar members structured to permit saidcollar to be positioned around and securely attached to the drive shaftbearing while the drive shaft remains mounted to the vehicle, a securingmechanism structured to securely attach said collar to the drive shaftbearing, an inner damper assembly comprising a plurality of innersections wherein each of said plurality of inner sections is integrallyattached to a corresponding one of said plurality of collar members ofsaid bearing collar assembly said plurality of inner sections of saidinner damper assembly further cooperatively structured to define aninner bushing interface when disposed in an operative orientationrelative to one another, an outer damper assembly comprising a pluralityof outer segments, wherein said plurality of outer segments arestructured to substantially encircle said inner damper assembly whendisposed in an operative configuration relative to one another and tocooperatively define an outer bushing interface, a bushing assemblydisposed in an operative engagement between said inner damper assemblyand said outer damper assembly, wherein said bushing assembly comprisesa plurality of bushing members individually and axially interconnectedbetween said inner bushing interface and said outer bushing interface,and a mounting mechanism interconnected to said outer damper assemblyand structured to securely attach said outer damper assembly to aportion of the vehicle.
 16. The assembly as recited in claim 15 whereinat least some of said bushing members comprise a homogenousconstruction.
 17. The assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein at leastsome of said bushing members comprising a composite construction.